Wisniewski Statement on Governor Christie’s Discussion Of Civil Rights History and Marriage Equality

January 25, 2012

Wisniewski Statement on Governor Christie's Discussion Of Civil Rights History and Marriage Equality (Trenton) New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Wisniewski issued the following statement regarding Governor Chris Christie's statement from his press conference proposing a referendum on the issue of marriage equality, as reported in today's Philadelphia Inquirer: "The fact of the matter is, I think people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South," he (Christie) said. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20120125_Christie_calls_for_same-sex_marriage_referendum.html?viewAll=y "Rosa Parks didn't get to the front of the bus through a ballot question and Jim Crow laws weren't repealed by public referendum. These civil rights were won because throughout our history, great leaders -- both Democrats and Republicans, from Thomas Jefferson to Abraham LIncoln to Lyndon Baines Johnson -- have stood up and lead the forward march of progress. To call for a public referendum on any civil right is the refuge of someone who refuses to lead. Governor Christie has an opportunity to leave a mark in history as a someone who, when the beacon of civil rights called his name, stood up to be counted among the leaders. My hope is that he finds the courage to take up the challenge and joins in the great American tradition of fighting to expand our civil rights and for justice."